Big Eck wants to curb silly bans

29 September 2011 02:04

Aston Villa manager Alex McLeish is to fine players who take their shirts off when celebrating a goal or are booked for dissent.

McLeish is aware of the need to avoid players becoming suspended unnecessarily - especially given the current lengthy list of injured players.

Villa have already picked up 19 bookings in eight games - including six during last weekend's 1-1 draw with QPR at Loftus Road.

McLeish said: "There's some bookings you can't avoid and you can't say 'right you are fined for that.' There's got to be a bit of give and take. But, with suspensions, you can control yellow cards to a certain extent if players can control their emotions. They can avoid the silly ones.

"I'm not going to tell a player not to tackle anybody. There are some things you can't legislate for suspension-wise. But we can't afford to lose players to suspensions.

"I'm going to have to fine players now for taking their shirts off when celebrating. I didn't have a rule in place before Gabby (Agbonlahor) did that. Gabby's also had one for dissent. We're trying to cut that side of it out and he understands that. We've talked it through as a group."